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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Click-a-adjust - How many clicks?

Just been doing my tappets and used the click adjust this time with some success.

How ever the previous time I used it I worked out it was 10 clicks but this time it seemed to be 9 clicks which seemed a better fit for the 0.12" setting I was working too.

This is on a 1275 engine but I still seem to have a tappety engine. What's the secret?

Thanks in Advance

Shaun
Shaun

Never heard of click-adjust Shawn, is that a tool or a special tappet?
Max Tyler

Hmm. It's a tool by gunson, as seen here:

http://www.toolsbypost.com/product_pp.php?category=559&id=1084

but oddly the Gunson website doesn't list it.
Andrew Noakes

I got mine second hand off ebay made by SPQR who I think supplied them to blmc originally (bargain compared to the Gunson price!!)

Shaun
Shaun

Shaun, i gave up using mine & have reverted to feeler gauages, but then my Titan rockers aren't as worn out as your jalopy.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Hi Shaun,
I've owned and been using my ClikAdjust for the past thirty years and they're great little devices.

Firstly, for the 1275 engine you should be setting the valves to 7 clicks when the engine is cold, 10 or 9 will leave far too big a gap. Secondly, it's also worth checking that the lock nuts and adjusters turn freely, it they're too tight the ratchet will click before the correct adjustment is obtained.

Clikadjust - Why use It? http://www.lbcarco.com/clik/Clikadjust_1.html

Using the Clikadjust: http://www.lbcarco.com/clik/Clikadjust_2.html

Data Table: http://www.lbcarco.com/clik/Clikadjust_3.html
Mike

Never seen that before and seems more complicated than using feeler gauges.....
Max Tyler

I have to admit only my second go at using it as I had resorted to feeler gauges after my first attempt once you get confidence in it much quicker than the feeler gauge method as you do not have to keep changing tools.

Shaun
Shaun

A ClikAdjust is much quicker and more accurate than using a feeler gauge. It takes me 5-10 minutes to adjust my valves with the ClikAdjust plus you don't need three hands to do the job.
Mike

I still prefer feeler gauges, then again i'm just awkward. I used a click adjust once & the gaps were not consistent, so the tool is at the bottom of the toolbox gathering dust now.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

If you're using a click-adjust, you'd be mad not to check with feelers after each one. So, what do you get?

(My click-adjust is in my "rarely used tools" box in the shed)


(at the bottom of the box, beneath the grey pebbles that claim to put lead in your tank)
Nick

"If you're using a click-adjust, you'd be mad not to check with feelers after each one."

Why? I never re-check, I donl;t see why there should be a need to and I've never had a problem. I do 10-15,000 mile per annum in my MG and never had a valve problem.

As for stones in the bottom of the toolkit, I would never by them because there's no credible reason why they work, by contrast the ClikAdjust is based upon sound engineering principles.
Mike

AS I understood it, if you have very worn, concave rocker-tip surfaces, the SPQR tool sets the gap right, whereas the feeler-set gaps would be too large as the feeler would bridge the wear. But that would need extreme wear, not advisable to live with these days. So it's just down to getting used to the method you prefer...
Andy Pie-Crust

I'm sure you're right, Mike. So sure that I'm going to go right out and buy the click-a-wheel-nut-guaranteed-spot-on-torque device.
Nick

Not trying to persuade you to do anything Nick, just offering up my experience of using this device over the past thirty years.

Sorry you didn't appreciate it as that.
Mike

Sounds like I could get a great deal on a Click-adjust if only I were in the UK...
David "now about those grey stones..." Lieb
David Lieb

Anyway, back to the original question. I'm sure you'll find it will work fine if you adjust to the correct number of clicks Shaun, it won't matter which country you're in.;-)
Mike

Shaun,
it's probably your big ends rather than the tappets, LOL :-)
Brad
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

It occured to me the MGB has a different series engine and therefore the amount of clicks maybe different between the a series and B series engines and therefore 7 clicks may not be enough.

I shall dig out another set of feeler gauges to check.

BTW what gap do people set on a cold 1275cc a series midget? is it .012 as per the book?

TIA

Shaun

Shaun

No, 7 clicks is right for the 1275 Midget engine, the MGB is 8 clicks.

Here's another link to the data table:

http://www.lbcarco.com/clik/Clikadjust_3.html

Remember to adjust them when the engine is cold.
Mike

This thread was discussed between 27/06/2009 and 29/06/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.